Friday, January 31, 2014

If it were up to my kids, we would have a house full of chips and all kinds of junk food. If it were totally up to me, we would have no junk food in the house at all. Pretzels are our compromise ;-)

This is Day 30 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge. Can't believe I made it every day! Thanks for staying with me throughout the challenge. I will try to make a collage of my 30 paintings this weekend. And I still have to get the rest of the Fun-A-Day Project paintings up as well. I have been varnishing the little paintings in groupings of three - and I tell you, I like the way they are going to look hung up all together.

I am going to continue with more 3 x 3 paintings - but I am working on some slightly larger work as well, so I hope you will continue to stop by and see what I've been up to.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Day 26 of my Fun-A-Day Project and Day 29 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge! What a month! I am working on a slightly larger painting for a commission which just may make it as Day 30. My last few Fun-A-Day paintings may get posted as we enter February, but they are ready....

The Fun-A-Day Boston exhibit has been set for February 17th through April 5th in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Details coming soon.....

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A couple of the little glass bottles from the collection on my kitchen windowsill. I love seeing how the light hits the pretty colored glass, so all my little bottles seem to migrate towards the window. With lots of other stuff. Hmmm - lets see.....a Ball canning jar and a few little vases with some dried flowers, some pretty rocks the boys have given me, a few sea shells and a bunch of seaglass from summers past, some interesting wine corks, a pretty green egg shell (whoops - guess I didn't throw them ALL away!), a couple of odd coins, some hand-forged square nails we found in the yard....a pretty eclectic combination of things when you stop to look....

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Getting sooo close to the end of the month!
So - should I continue on this series? I have had some requests for a few larger ones with similar paintings that I have done this month. It's been so much fun, I kind of want to keep going. But I think I will have to spread them out more - lots of gallery work coming up!

I am just getting details of where and when the Fun-A-Day Boston exhibit will be. This should be lots of fun! I will share the info as soon as I can get my act together.....

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Contrasting colors of fiestaware on a fun polka-dotted pattern...can you tell I have fun setting these up?!
I am trying to resist the urge to go visiting any antique or consignment shops to look for more fiestaware-type pieces. It is too much fun to go on the hunt! I need to have a studio with walls of shelves for props - then maybe I could justify buying more. Until then, I am pretty much out of space ;-)

Getting close to the end of the month - I will need to catch up on all my posts for the Fun-A-Day Project and the 30 Paintings in 30 Days - and I will be starting some new projects for February, so I hope you will check back in soon. Thank you for looking at my work!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Lots of family stuff today, so just a quick post to add this little painting - Day 21 for my Fun-A-Day kitchen painting project, and Day 24 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge. You can see all my Fun-A-Day paintings so far here.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Weird title, right? I have no idea why. But "Robin Hood" was the first thing that popped into my head. And then once it was there, I found I couldn't name it anything but! Funny how our minds work. Maybe because the leaf looks a little like a feather? No clue!

I hope you are enjoying these little paintings. I am really enjoying painting them. I have so many more ideas, too, that I hope to continue past January, although there may not be one every day since my schedule is pretty packed. I am finding keeping up with the posting to be my downfall, though. I am still a few days behind......

Thursday, January 23, 2014

I had to sneak in a quick painting of these shy little Kisses....with Valentine's Day coming up and all....

Small break from my Fun-A-Day Project, but don't fear, I will probably post the next one later tonight.

I have so many ideas and so many things in my head that I want to paint. I keep stopping the actual painting to jot down ideas or do a few sketches. I try to kind of "go with it" when that happens, because I know those ideas and sketches will be very helpful to me during times when I am not feeling very creative ;-) It's just frustrating because it makes me feel like I am not painting fast enough!

Anyhow, this ACEO will be available with a few more Valentine's Day-themed pieces at Positive Images Gallery in Haverhill, Massachusetts later this week.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Can't believe this month is going by so quickly! I am thinking I may want to continue some of these little kitchen paintings even when the Fun-A-Day Project is over, but probably not a new one every single day ;-)

I liked the way this apple settled, a little off-kilter. When I sketched out the shape of it, it made me think of a heart - hence the title.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Another painting of the lovely green eggs that I have gotten from one of my local friends. They are such a pretty soft green color that I hate to throw the shells away! (But don't worry, I do - I don't collect everything!) The shine and shadow on the egg is always a challenge - it makes me keep on going back and trying again.....

Getting hit with yet more snow - the kids are hoping for another snow day, but they will be going to school until July at this rate! I am just hoping for a good studio day - even an uninterrupted half-day at this point ;-)

Monday, January 20, 2014

A stack of dishes....am I strange for painting a stack of dishes? I just loved all the colors and the shapes and shadows.....made me think of the rings around Saturn somehow ;-)

The bowl on top, the "radioactive red" dish, and the cobalt blue on the bottom are all fiestaware - the others are something more current. I go for color and shape in my collection - not necessarily the brand, so I have quite a mix. Keeps it interesting!

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Back to the kitchen.....working on my Fun-A-Day Project. Going from the very colorful pieces of the last few days, to one with more subtle color. The egg is a local one from one of my neighbors. I have gotten very spoiled with the local eggs - I really don't like to buy them in the grocery store any more! You really can taste the difference.

I am already diving into my next Fun-A-day painting...this one has lots of color.....I will post it soon!

It is a similar idea to a little ACEO painting I did a few years ago - this one will be framed as part of a Valentine's Day themed display at Positive Images Gallery in Haverhill, Massachusetts some time next week.

It is fun to play with the magnetic refrigerator letters. I saved a bag of them (for me!) even though my kids are a little too old to want to play with them anymore. I may have to come up with an idea for another painting using them again soon.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Some cheery cherry tomatoes in a lovely yellow bowl - they sure looked sunny on my counter this morning! I am getting so excited about the possibilities of things evolving from these little paintings from my Fun-A-Day project. I have plans for some other pieces of art based on these so I hope you don't get tired of things from my kitchen!

I talked with almost all my shops and galleries this week. It's amazing how January starts with so little on the table. Suddenly my calendar is filling very quickly! Lots of exciting things to look forward to in 2014. I hope you will stay tuned ;-)

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Here is the Day 14 painting for my Fun-A-Day project. Yes,I know it should be Day 16...but I can't seem to coordinate the painting, scanning, and posting. I am still behind on the posting part, but hope to get caught up soon!

And after talking to with my various shops & galleries, there is a lot of interest in these little kitchen paintings! These actual paintings won't be available until after the Boston Fun-A-Day exhibit, but in the meanwhile, I will be painting a bunch of slightly larger pieces on various materials to sell locally. If you have any special requests, just let me know. I am taking a few commissions as well.

I hope to take a group picture of what I have so far soon, but in the meanwhile you can check out my Fun-A-Day Flickr set to see what paintings have been completed to date.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Okay - I admit it. I love, love colorful mismatched dinnerware. I especially have a thing for the old Fiestaware. Also Riviera and Harlequin and all that wonderful pottery of the 30's - 50's.

I have quite a few bits and pieces - some more vintage than other, some contemporary - but all colorful. I don't use a lot of it on the table, but I do like to display it, and love to paint pictures of it.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Yep, I'm having too much fun with this Fun-A-Day Project! I am wanting to re-do just about every one of these paintings as a larger piece. So don't be surprised if you see some of these re-visited.

And speaking of re-visiting....I have had a number of inquiries about whether or not these little ones are for sale. They will be after the Fun-A-Day Boston exhibition - which may not be until spring. You can contact me and let me know that you would like to be notified when the pieces are available. Or, if you don't want to wait, I can paint a similar piece for you to your size specifications. Just let me know!

Monday, January 13, 2014

Well, after the mug and plate the other day, I thought I needed some silverware! Actually, I've been wanted to try silverware as a subject for a while, so you may see a few utensil paintings this month.

I am still having fun with this Fun-A-Day Project. It is really making me want to do some of these paintings in a larger format. I am also enjoying keeping up with Leslie Saeta's 30 Day Painting Challenge and am finding all kinds of new artist blogs to visit. All-in-all, a good way to start the new year!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

I keep going back to the clementines! They always seem to be around the kitchen this time of year. While I desperately miss local fruit, these little clementines are one thing I do enjoy during the winter. The kids and I seem to go through a ton of them.

How is your new year going?
I'm just trying now to clean off my desk and give myself a little direction for the year. I ran most of my year end numbers for my art business yesterday, and that is giving me a starting point to think about some things for the new year business-wise. I hope that a lot of exciting things are in store! Creatively, this Fun-A-Day Project is really giving me all kinds of ideas of tangents that I want to go off on, so stay tuned......

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Still plugging away.....I am all caught up on painting, not so much on posting ;-)

As I am lining these up for varnishing, I am thinking about how cool it is going to be to hang them all together! The Fun-A-Day Boston group finally has its own facebook page here - so check it out!

So many more ideas for things from my kitchen - and these little paintings are starting to spark some slightly larger ones that I am working on at the same time - lots of painting going on here.

I am also thrilled to find out that two of my paintings were juried into the Newburyport Art Association's Winter Member Juried Show, Pt. 1. The show runs through the first of February at the art association in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Friday, January 10, 2014

This is Day 8 of my Fun-A-Day Project to create a 3 x 3 inch painting of something from my kitchen.

Following the spicy theme from yesterday.... we have lots of hot sauces, too. Probably many more than one family needs. My kids even get hot sauce in their Christmas stockings!

Painting more bottles could be fun....I have been thinking I may have to do another 30 days of "Things from my Refrigerator". That could get scary - especially if I were to get down to painting the unidentifable objects in the back of the fridge,,,,,

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Working away on my Fun-A-Day Project....a 3 x 3 inch painting of something from my kitchen during each day in January. This is my painting for Day 7.

All of my kids (and my husband and I) enjoy spicy food. One of my kids favorite things to do at the Farmers' Market is to pick out a new kind of pepper. Local farms always have such a colorful array of peppers - so many different colors and shapes - it is always an adventure to try something new. Now that the season for local produce is over, one of my sons picked out this pepper at the grocery store. We will have to see if it packs a punch!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Day 6 of my Fun-A-Day Project....yes I am falling behind on my posts. I may need to start doubling up on these so I don't get too far behind.....

I wanted to play with pattern a little bit again here. These little paintings are giving me the chance to try some things without feeling like I am making too big a commitment. I am looking forward to seeing how these all will look when hung together!

Monday, January 6, 2014

Silly, I know - but I've been wanted to try to paint an egg for a while now. That is one of the advantages to this little project - not only is it incubating some ideas for larger paintings, but it is also giving me the chance to try a few things that I was nervous to try before.

And yes, that shell is GREEN! I get local eggs as much as possible, and one of my friends has chickens whose eggs are the most lovely shade of green. I am forever washing and saving the shells - they just seem too pretty to just throw away. My husband keeps asking me what I am going to do with them....why, paint them, of course!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Here is yesterday's Fun-A-Day painting. 30 days of little paintings of things from my kitchen! Yes, I do plan on doing more than just fruit, but so far the fruit has been oh so tempting......

I have been asked what will happen with these little paintings once January is over. Each city participating in the Fun-A-Day Project will hold an exhibition displaying the work of the participants. I will be with the Boston group - and will post the gallery information when I have it. Once the show is over, I will put the little pieces up for sale. If you are interested in a particular piece, be sure to email me and I will notify you when it is available.

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Fun-A-Day Project, day 3 - another small 3 x 3 painting of something from my kitchen.
I wanted to practice working with a bit of a pattern in the background. Didn't quite come out as I had envisioned it, but it was good practice!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Wish I could say that today was a sunny delight! We are in the midst of a blizzard here in the North East. 16+ inches of snow so far - and they say the worst is till yet to come.

The kids' vacation got extended by two extra days - it is nice to have them home, but it isn't really beneficial to my productivity ;-)

I did get today's Fun-A-Day painting done - and Day 2 of the 30 Day Painting Challenge. If I do miss a day posting - I will post two days of paintings together. I'm not always so good about keeping up with the posting part!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014 is off and running!
This is the first of my paintings for the Fun-A-Day Project where I will be creating a 3 x 3 inch painting of something from my kitchen during each day in January. It also the first day of Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge - so I get to kill two birds with one stone, right?

With the theme of "something from my kitchen" I expect that there will be a lot of food paintings this month. But I also have some colorful dinnerware in my cupboards, and a little collection of glass bottles on my windowsill, and who knows what else I will find when digging through my kitchen......

Retro roadside art.....Join me as I paint my way around New England, capturing favorite signs and buildings that are quickly disappearing from our landscape - with some classic cars and vintage toys thrown in for fun.

Want to purchase a painting shown - or commission one of your own? Please contact me at DShirleyArt@yahoo.com for more information.